Annual Wine Auction at the Hospices de Beaune | Burgundy Eye Annual Wine Auction at the Hospices de Beaune Hospices de Beaune wine sale Photo © Alain Doire / Bourgogne Tourisme The annual Hospices de Beaune auction is an important event in the wine-world calendar. The 153st took place on Sunday November 17, 2013. It is the central event of Burgundy’s most spectacular annual celebration, known as the Trois Glorieuses. The 2013 sale was presided by the actrice Clotilde Courau. Guests stars were Cali, singer, Alex Kemyz, DJ, Mathieu Johann, singer, Nicolas Peyrac, songwriter, performer and novelist, Jean Louis Thouard, Burgundian author-illustrator. A major event in the calendar of the region, the Vente des Vins draws the eyes of the world to Beaune every November. The Hôtel Dieu in Beaune was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor to Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy (1419-1467).

The purpose of the hospital was to to relieve some of the misery caused by the 100 Years’ War. Its iconic, flamboyant Gothic architecture, with multi-coloured, Flemish roof-tiles make it the most famous of Burgundy’s land-marks. Since its inception the Hospices’ work of caring has continued. Hospices de Beaune auction: 189 barrels at first sale in 1859 In 2013 43 different cuvées were offered for sale. This included the special barrel, included every year in the auction by the Hospices de Beaune, for which the proceeds were given to the charitable associations the Petits Princes and the Papillons blancs. Today the Hospices, thanks to their charitable endowments, manages a modern health facility and the original Hôtel-Dieu is now maintained by the Hospices as a historic monument which receives more than 400 000 visitors a year. The Hospices also own a 61 hectare domaine of grand cru and premier cru wines which has been built up over half a millennium through gifts and legacies.

Donations of some of Burgundy’s greatest vineyards have resulted in the formation of an exceptional wine estate, covering 140 acres, the majority First Growths and Great Growths. The charity wine auction dates back to 1859. 189 barrels were sold on that occasion. Since 1924 the sale has invariably taken place on the third Sunday in November. There are great whites like Bâtard-Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne and Meursault, and also famous Grands Crus reds from the Côte de Nuits: Mazis-Chambertin and Clos de la Roche. These wines are sold bearing the names of Hospices benefactors, for instance Corton Cuvée Dr Peste, or Beaune Cuvée Nicolas Rolin. “Trois Glorieuses” Festivities For full details of what’s on in Beaune over the weekend of the Hospices Wine Sale, check our events calendar . The party begins on the third Saturday of November at the famous Château du Clos de Vougeot with a chapter meeting of the most prestigious Bacchanalian societies - the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.

This evening is reserved for members of the Confrérie and invited guests. The next day, the third Sunday of the month starting at 2.30 pm, the 43 cuvées of the Hospices de Beaune are put up for auction before an audience of buyers in the market hall in Beaune, those participating by phone and over the internet. Information on entry tickets for the sale itself and for pre-sale wine tastings: Christies (Tél 01 40 76 83 88). The third great event of the weekend is the Paulée de Meursault lunch. Held at the Château de Meursault on the monday the day after the Hospices de Beaune wine sale, the Paulée de Meursault is a great Bacchanalian feast where each invited guest brings along a few bottles. Improved growing techniques, new sales methods Over the last decade, the Hospices has constructed a state-of-the-art new fermentation centre in Beaune. In the vineyards, ploughing has been re-introduced and weed-killers eliminated, in order to safeguard the environment while nurturing the micro-biological complexity of the soils.

Thanks to rigorous pruning, yields have been reduced, to enrich the fruit intensity of the wines. The average age of the Hospices vineyards is now an impressive 34 years. The wines are always auctioned by the barrel (each barrel yielding 24 cases 12/bts. or 6/mags.). The tending of the young wines in barrel, and their bottling, 12-24 months after the sale, takes place locally. This is entrusted by the Hospices to the experienced négoçiant-éleveurs (merchant-tenders) of Burgundy, who traditionally have been the sole buyers at the November auction. Up until 2005 the chief Auctioneer conducted the sale according to the picturesque and time-honoured ritual of bidding “à la bougie”. Bids used to made be made during a limited period defined by the lighting and extinguishing of a candle. Now the British auction house Christie’s conducts the Hospices de Beaune wine auction. Maturing in new casks, the wines must go into traditional Burgundian négociants who have bid successfully for them. The wines must go into traditional Burgundian bottles and bear the special labels issued by the Hospices.

Information on the label includes appellation, name of cuvée, year, and the name and address of the buyer. The best of Beaune - featured accommodation and restaurants Wine festivals Wine festivals Wine festivals Festival of St Vincent The Festival of St Vincent, the Patron Saint of Winegrowers, always takes place on the first weekend after January 22nd and is usually marked by freezing cold temperatures and often snow! The Festival rotates around a different Burgundy wine-village each year The Saturday begins early, at 7.30am, with a procession of around 100 Burgundy winegrowers, representing the Appellations, processing through the host village. The winegrower who is the “guardian” of the St Vincent statuette carries it through the streets alongside musicians and banners representing the village chapters. The 2-hour procession makes its way to the village Church for a celebratory mass attended by Grand Council of the Order. Following the mass, the procession makes its way to an Extraordinary Chapter of the brotherhood to honour “old servants of the vine”.

Throughout the Saturday and Sunday various cellars (caves) are open in the host village for winetasting and there are a variety of artisans displaying arts, barrel-making and the food of the region. One of the most visually striking aspects is that the village is bedecked in a multitude of hand-made paper flowers which, if the sun shines, can make visitors think it is June, not January despite the cold. Les Trois Glorieuses de Bourgogne (Three Glorious Days) Perhaps along with the St Vincent this is the most famous of Burgundy’s wine Festivals. Always held on the third weekend in November, the three glorious days comprise Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Saturday starts with a street fair in Beaune with artisans such as barrel-makers, antique traders, boulangères, artists and others all creating their own stalls through the town centre which is closed to traffic. Many Beaune based large Domaines such as Bouchard and Patriarche will have special tastings for clients and the general public. In the evening the grand dinner of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin is held in the Chateau de Clos du Vougeot.

This invitation-only event is a highlight of the weekend with special guests and the welcoming of new members. Sunday is the world-famous Wine Auction, now held in the Market Hall in Beaune opposite the Hospice de Beaune or Hotel Dieu which dates from 1443. The Auction itself dates from 1859. The Hospices sells wines “en primeur” from the recent harvest that have only been in the barrel for a matter of weeks. The vineyards of the Hospice total about 61 hectares making 44 different “cuvees” from donated land located throughout the principal villages of the Côte de Beaune with 3 Grand Cru parcels in the Côte de Nuits. The Wine Auction is described as the largest charity sale in the world. Money raised goes towards care of the sick and elderly, towards the new Beaune hosipital, to repairs to the Hotel Dieu, and the special “Piece de President” towards an annually chosen charity. The auction frequently raises in excess of €5 million, and has historically, but less so now, been regarded as an indicator of Burgundy wine prices for the vintage.

The weekend concludes with an invitation-only lunch in Meursault on Monday called the Paulée de Meursault. Each guest brings his own bottles and the evening is a magnificent feast lubricated with some of the best wines from Burgundy and beyond! Hospices de Beaune Charitable Wine Auction - Food Reference Beverage Facts HOSPICES DE BEAUNE CHARITABLE WINE AUCTION Hospices de Baune is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world of wine. It is located in the centre of Beaune, the economic capital of the Burgundy wine trade. Nicolas Rolin the chancellor and duke of the Duchy of Burgundy founded it in 1443 as a charitable hospital to cater to the needy. Since then, many rich Burgundians including Begerze de Lanlay, Dr Loppin, Dr Peste, and Guigogne-de-Salin bequeathed the foundation some of the finest vineyards of the region, Every year, on the third Sunday of November the new wines of Hospices de Baune’s 45 vineyards ( cuvee ) are auctioned – a tradition started in 1851 to support the foundation.

Annually, pending on the size of vintage 700-1000 barrels ( 225 litres ), are auctioned. Most bidders are Burgundy shippers and prices paid are an economic barometer for that vintage’s quality and potential value. Prior to the auction each potential bidder is given a card recording the wines offered. Tasters use tastevins to evaluate. Each cuvee is poured by a server stationed in front of the lot. The samples are spat into a spittoon on the floor if you can reach it. Burgundy shippers and winemakers wear old and tatty raincoats for the occasion! They know how accurately new tasters spit! Participants make their brief notes about Savigny-Les-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Auxey-Duresses, Monthelie. Volnay, Beaune, Pommard, Corton and Mazis-Chambertin cuvees. All are red.

The whites come next starting with Corton , Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault, Meursault-Charmes ( cuvee Albert Grivault and cuvee Begerze de Lanlay ) Endowed vineyards increase over time, but these days endowments are far less than they were in the 19th century and before. The following day the General Exhibition of Burgundy wines takes place at the Town Hall. Every Burgundy wine -growing village is represented from Chablis down to Villefranche-Sur-Saone, in three huge halls. One hall is a tent measuring 50 meters in length and 10 metres, the floor of which is covered with sawdust. (Wear old shoes and an old raincoat for this occasion! ) Thousands mill around and just point to the wine they would like to sample. A little is poured into the tastevin and you taste. Try to make notes and don’t forget to spit! Here you can taste over 60 Gevrey-Chambertins, 50 Meursaults, 40 Pommards and 60 Montrachets among others.

Many wine aficionados feel as though they died and went to heaven! But the event is a crush! People mill around with the objective of tasting as many wines as they possibly can. Some of the wineries attract less attention due to their reputation or lack of it. The first of Les Trois Glorieuses (The Three Glorious ones) meals is served in the evening after this general tasting. This banquet takes place in the 12th century Chateau de Vougeot set in the middle of vineyards; it started in 1851 with the inception of the auction. For the occasion, the chateau is illuminated providing a more impressive effect than during the day. (Clos de Vougeot vineyards measure 56 hectares and are split amongst 77 growers. Some own as few as two rows of vines and must sell the fruit to a merchant. Vinifying such a small amount of fruit is not feasible. This unique situation is the result of France’s antiquated heritage laws). Six hundred guests are served a gourmet meal accompanying fine Burgundy wines. Entertainment is provided by the members of Confrerie de Chevaliers du Tastevin.

New members are inducted in a pompous ceremony, only French can master. The auction takes place on Sunday at 2.30 pm in the Old Town Hall which sits 100, and strictly allocated to those who patronize the Hospices i.e Burgundy shippers of good standing and those large enough to bid on a number of lots. The 18 Hospices de Beaune notables sit on a dais in front. The auctioneer sits in the middle, flanked on his left by the “candle man “ who is in charge of lighting slim candles. (The auction takes place “a la chandelle “, meaning between the lighting and burning out of the candle, the lot must be sold. Next to the candle man is the crier (le crieur) who actually points to the bidders and shouts out the bid. Six “spotters“ on the peripheries of the bidding crowd scan the crowd and alert the crier. Traditionally Pere Patriarche buys the first lot offered, and other shippers up the price by bidding high.

While the auction rules indicate that the lot must be sold before the candle burns out, exceptions are made, if the auctioneer feels he can extract a higher bid. A new candle is lit, or if the candle was extinguished, re-lit! French are famous for making the rules then breaking them! But everything is done to support financially the Hospices de Baune. The bidding goes on for seven, sometimes nine hours, until all the lots including eaux de vie and marcs of Burgundy are sold. It can be a challenging experience if not trying. Each cask yields 288 bottles, although strictly speaking it should be 300, but 12 bottles are discounted for evaporation (Too much if you ask me, but rules are rules ). The auction is rounded of by the second of Les Trois Glorieuses. Same idea as the previous one, but this one is held by candle light and in the bastion of the Old City Walls of Beaune.

A SAMPLE MENU: Le Consomme de Volaille au Xeres La Terrine des Ris de Veau au Foie Gras Frais de Bresse Chablis Les Clos 1998 Le Feulliette de Langouste a la Crème d’Estragon Meursault-Charmes Cuvee Dr Peste 1999 La Noisette de Boeuf Poivrade et la Mousseline des Celeri aus Airelles Beaune Cuvee Guigone-de-Salins 1995 Le Vieux Marc La Prunelle de Bourgogne The third of the Toirs Glorieuses takes place Monday in La Paulee de Meursault; this is an equally elaborate meal. During this function the best book published in the previous year on Burgundy is prized and offered 100 bottles of Meursault ( A fortune at today’s prices ). The Hospices de Baune auction sets the tone of that vintage in Burgundy, and in effect is a promotional event for the region. The French know how to promote their wines- Bordeaux and Burgundy excel.

There is also a Hospices de Nuits in March, and a Hospices de Beaujeu in Beaujolais, where less food is consumed, but more wine offered to lubricate the humour! If you can manage to get an invitation through a Burgundy shipper, do not miss this unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a fine event, educational and highly entertaining! Article contributed by Hrayr Berberoglu, a Professor Emeritus of Hospitality and Tourism Management specializing in Food and Beverage. Books by H. Berberoglu Prices Up at Auction Of Burgundy Wine - NYTimes.com Prices Up at Auction Of Burgundy Wine By PAUL LEWIS, Special to The New York Times Published: November 21, 1983 BEAUNE, France, Nov. 20— "Sold for 100,000 francs¸" The auctioneer banged an ivory gavel, and applause swept through Beaune's medieval market hall today at the 123d annual auction of wine from the vineyards of the Hospice de Beaune.

Andre Boisseau, head of a wine merchants' firm called Patriarche, had just bid about $12,000 for a single cask of wine from a vineyard that was given to the Hospice by Nicholas Rollin, chancellor to Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy when he founded this charitable hospital in 1443. Last year a similar barrel - enough for about 300 bottles - cost 17,600 francs, or $2,200. Don't worry though. The price of Burgundy is not going up sixfold this year. The single cask from the Rollin vineyard was being auctioned to benefit cancer research, and Mr. Boisseau said he paid a fancy price out of charity and to gain publicity for his firm. But prices of Burgundy, especially white Burgundy, are rising 15 or 20 percent this year, reflecting high quality coupled with modest supplies. This would be one of the biggest increases since the last great vintage in 1978, when the prices of many Burgundy wines leaped about 60 percent.

After a string of disappointing years, when abundant but mediocre wine coincided with a worldwide recession, Burgundy growers are finally feeling more optimistic. "Prices are going in the right direction, more then compensating for inflation but avoiding the excesses of the past," commented Robert Drouhin, a prominent vineyard owner and a member of the Burgundy Wine Producers Committee, as he scribbled bids on his catalog. Jacques d'Angerville, the committee's president, said at a news conference earlier, "This year's vintage is a good long-term investment, like the dollar, and we expect very firm prices." Every year, on the third Sunday in November, dealers from all over the world gather in the market hall here to bid for wine from the 150 acres of prime Burgandy vineyards that have been left to the hospital. Prices tend to be on the high side because the sale is for charity, but the November auction sets the trend for Burgundy prices that year. It is a bucolic occasion. This morning the center of Beaune was closed to traffic as throngs of wine lovers, with silver wine-tasting cups hanging around their necks on ribbons, wandered among the merchants sampling the vintage.

Musicians and dancers dressed in medieval garments paraded around the town square. Merchants and growers provide huge feasts for their clients. When the sale started today, prices immediately moved up. Two auctioneers, sitting on a rostrum in front of a blue tapestry, sang out the bids through loudspeakers, while a third held a small lighted paper. When the paper burns out, the last bidder wins. Casks of red Beaune Brunet, which fetched 13,985 francs in 1982, were quickly bid up to 17,500 francs today, a rise of about 25 percent. Red Corton Charlotte Dumay, which cost 19,000 francs last year, reached 24,000 francs, up 26 percent. Pomard Cyrot-Chaudron brought 16,000 francs, up 17 percent. Volnay Blondeau climbed 25 percent, to 20,000 francs a cask. White Burgundy also recorded particularly strong rises.

Meursault Loppin climbed 25 percent, to 23,000 francs, while Meursault-Charmes was knocked down at 26,500 francs a cask, up from 21,382. Continuing Recovery Seen Growers are clearly pleased by the strengthening prices, which appear to confirm a recovery that began a year or so ago. In 1978 the average price of a cask of Burgundy sold at the Hospice de Beaune was 16,810 francs. Two years later it had sunk to 11,524 francs. Now the price is rising again. But 1982 was still the first year when it exceeded 1978's very high level in current francs, although when adjusted for inflation it was still much lower. The average price of this year's auction will not be known until later in the week, but it seems certain to far exceed 1982's level of 17,164 francs.

The falling prices of recent years generally seem a reaction to the excessive price increases of 1978, compounded by poor quality wine, the world recession and changing tastes, with white wine gaining sharply in popularity over red. 2 Years' Supply on Hand As a result, in Chassagne-Montrachet, Volnay, Pommard, Aloxe-Corton, Nuits-St. Georges and all the other great wine-producing villages of the Cotes de Beaune and the Cotes de Nuits, sellers are bursting with stocks of two years'supply or more. "Plenty of producers are finding themselves in difficulties," Mr. d'Angerville said, "but things are improving for most of them now." The main improvement is that total sales of Burgundy wines so far this year are up a healthy 25 percent from last year. But this increase conceals a change in international taste that could create difficulties for the industry. Sales of white wine have jumped 40 percent this year and for the first time exceed those of red Burgundy, which has grown only 10 percent. Exports of white Burgundy rose 26 percent this year, while those of red Burgundy fell 16 percent.

Pattern of Sales Abroad The United States, the largest single market for Burgundy vintages, increased its consumption of white wine by 57 percent this year, encouraged by the strong dollar, which in effect lowers the price of all imported goods. In Britain, white Burgundy sales are up 42 percent, while in West Germany they rose 76 percent. By contrast, sales of red Burgundy wine have fallen 12 percent in the United States, 32 percent in Switzerland and 13 percent in Belgium. But the Burgundy region still produces twice as much red wine as white. Mr. Drouhin remains optimistic, however, about the future of red wine sales, perceiving what he calls "a natural tendency" for the young to move from white wine to light reds and then on to heavier reds as they grow older. "In time there is a great future for red burgundy in the U.S. market, now that we've got so many converts to our side," he said. Photo; In Beaune, France, an auctioneer sells wine at the city's market hall.

Beaune City Guide | BKWine Tours | Beaune City Guide By Per Karlsson on January 6, 2011 in City Guides , France Beaune, “the Capital of Burgundy” Beaune is the capital of the Cote de Beaune, which together with the Cote de Nuits makes up the Cote d’Or, the heart of Burgundy. Cote d’Or is a small wine district some 80 kilometres long, from Santenay in the south to Marsannay in the north. For the wine traveller Beaune, that lies in the middle, is the perfect point of departure for a round trip amongst the Burgundy vineyards. Beaune has a population of approximately 20,000 people and it is not only one of France’s most well known wine producing towns. It is also a town rich in history. Here you will find cobblestone streets flanked by lovely, well preserved medieval houses with charming courtyards. And of course, the fantastic Hotel-Dieu, which alone makes it worth while to visit Beaune.

Shopping street in Beaune, Burgundy, copyright BKWine Photography Hotel Dieu is owned by the charity institution Hospices de Beaune. But the most valuable treasures in Beaune are not immediately visible. Who would suspect that hidden away in underground cellars lie bottles of wine worth – well I would not even hazard a guess at their value. Many famous wine houses have their offices and cellars in Beaune itself. Joseph Drouhin, Louis Jadot, Louis Latour, Bouchard Aine, Bouchard Pere et Fils, Patriarche, Chanson and many more. The two last you can visit quite easily for a nominal entrance fee. It is worth it, just to get a look at their impressive cellars. The cellar of Patriarche with its 15,000 square metres of wine storage, is, it is said, the largest cellar in Burgundy. Naturally there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, wine stores and everything else you need to make for a pleasant visit. But watch out for the wines stores. Some of them are tourist traps. Buying red Bourgogne is always a bit risky because the quality varies enormously between the different producers.

A good shop is the one that lies in the Passage Sainte-Helene and belongs to the restaurant Ma Cuisine. For the soul Hotel Dieu – Impressive Hospital Detail of Hotel Dieu, Beaune, copyright BKWine Photography The Hotel Dieu is one of France’s great attractions. Situated right in the centre of Beaune, it is a fine example of that special Flemish/Burgundian style that existed here during the 15th century. At the request of the ruling Duke of Burgundy artists and painters from both Paris and Flanders moved to Dijon and helped with the ornamentation. The building was completed in 1443 and has functioned as a charitable hospital from that time right up to 1971, when the hospital moved to more appropriate modern buildings on the outskirts of town and the Hotel Dieu was made into a museum. It is impressive from the outside but do not miss going inside as well. The inner courtyard, with its colourful patterned ceiling, so typically Burgundian, is the biggest attraction. The Hospices de Beaune also owns 75 hectares of vineyards, predominantly in Cote de Beaune.

The wine from these vineyards is auctioned off with pomp and circumstance the third week-end in November every year. The income goes to the running of the hospital. For the mind – books, and more books Eating and drinking is a pleasant occupation, but it is also nice to read about food and wine. I recommend a visit to the Athenaeum opposite the H0tel Dieu. This shop sells a remarkable assortment of wine accessories, wine and books (as well as other things that do not have anything to do with wine whatsoever). The biggest section is the book department, with an unbelievable collection of food and wine books, in both English and French. Here you will find editions that you cannot find anywhere else. You will gladly linger for a long time happily browsing. For the body – cafes and restaurants Wine shop in Beaune, Burgundy, copyright BKWine Photography In all probability, after all this browsing, you will be in the mood for a glass of wine. You can either choose one of the cafes in the town square, the Place Carnot, a few meters from the Athenaeum, or the little Bistro Bourguignon, which is both a wine bar and restaurant with a very ambitious cook.

Jazz concerts are held here on Saturday evenings. Or go along to the Marche aux Vins, which lies between the Hospice de Beaune and the Athenaeum, housed inside an old church from the 14th century. Which incidentally is the oldest church in Beaune. Here, for a small fee, you can taste a large selection of Burgundy wines of various vintages in a old vaulted cellar. In Beaune you can eat well and it is easy to find restaurants that serve Burgundian specialities like jambon persille which you eat with an aligote, a simple white Burgundy wine; or oeufs en meurette (poached egg in a red wine sauce). You will find snails prepared in a variety of ways and of course the classics, beef bourguignon and coq au vin. If you are looking for more sophisticated food then there is the Le Benaton, which received its first Michelin star a few years ago, or the very popular La Ciboulette. Knife and fork in a restaurant in Beaune, copyright BKWine Photography The style of the Burgundian kitchen is a little bit on the rustic side.

You always have to remember to save a little space for the tasty local cheeses, in particular the rich epoisse. The epoisse is not produced industrially anywhere at all. It is still produced by hand according the original method developed by the monks. During the three month long maturation phase, the cheese is washed regularly with Marc de Bourgogne. Marc is the local grappa, in other words a brandy that is produced by distilling the grape skins and pips remaining after pressing the grapes. A small marc is excellent when you have eaten just a tiny bit too much of the Burgundian specialities. Another great speciality in Bourgogne is the pain d’epice , which is a kind of soft ginger biscuit with a honey and aniseed taste. And of course the Dijon mustard and the black currant liqueur. The classic aperitif Kir originated here, invented by Father Felix Kir. It should always be made with an Aligote white wine with a dash of the cassis (black currant) liqueur.

Should you get tired of the local gastronomy, then you can try Restaurant Bissoh, a Japanese restaurant with good sushi and meat that is prepared traditionally in the middle of the restaurant. Their wine list is one of the best in town. A walk in the vineyards Walk or bike in the vineyards of Beaune, copyright BKWine Photography Leave the town for a while for a stroll out to the vineyards – it is just a short stroll on foot. Beaune is one of the biggest appellations in the Cote d’Or. There are many well known vineyards within walking distance from the town centre. Vineyards like Les Teurons and Les Graves. It is always fun to go out to the vineyards, whatever the season, just to look at the vines, the soil, the pruning and other methods that are employed. You learn a lot. And after all the restaurants, you probably need the exercise. Restaurants Ma Cuisine, passage Sainte-Helene ph:03 80 22 30 22. You will find this very popular little restaurant in a pleasant passage by the Place Carnot. Good prices, pleasant service, emphasis on local gastronomy.

(approx 30 euros for a meal). Reservation recommended. La Ciboulette, 69 Rue de Lorraine; ph: 03 80 24 70 72. French cuisine with a certain elegance (45-60 euros for a meal). Le Bistro Bourguignon, 8 rue Monge, ph: 24 03 80 22 23. Wine Bar and restaurant, wines by the glass that are not expensive and exciting food. (from 20 euros) A happy chef in a restaurant, Beaune, copyright BKWine Photography Le Benaton, Faubourg-Bretonniere, ph: 03 80 22 00 26. This restaurant received a well deserved Michelin star a few years ago.(menu from 50 euros). Caveau des Arches, 10, Boulevard Perpreuil, ph: 03 22 10 37 A fine old vaulted cellar serving French specialities.

(menu from 23 euros) La Part des Anges, 24 bis, rue d’Alsace, ph: 03 22 07 68. Trendy, stylish Restaurant and Wine bar. Restaurant Bissoh, 1a rue Faubourg St Jacques. Japanese restaurant, very high class, superb wine list (40-60 euro). Wine Stores Bay wine community contributes over $125,000 to Hospice | Scoop News Bay wine community contributes over $125,000 to Hospice Wednesday, 8 December 2010, 9:52 am MEDIA RELEASE Bay wine community contributes over $125,000 to Cranford Hospice Over $125,000, proceeds from the 2010 Midlands Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction, were presented (Wednesday 8 December) to Cranford Hospice board chairman, Ken Gilligan and Cranford general manager, Helen Blaxland by Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. chair, Nicholas Buck.

The commitment to Cranford Hospice by the Hawke’s Bay wine industry began in 1991 and since then it is not just the financial generosity that has grown; the relationship has become personal for the many grape growers and winery personnel involved. Hawke’s Bay’s regional wine industry association with Cranford follows in good stead from other wine / hospice relationships around the world. Examples include the most famous Hospice de Beaune held in Burgundy each year, the Napa Valley Wine Auction, and the Winesong! Auction held in California. “Hawke’s Bay’s full-bodied reds and Chardonnays are wines that can be barrel-aged and have some longevity, which makes them ideally suited as auction lots,” says Mr Buck. “Wineries that participate in the Charity Wine Auction do so from a strong sense of community involvement and a desire to give back to their region.” The idea to establish a Hawke’s Bay charity wine auction sprung from a casual conversation in the late 80s between local winemakers, Alan Limmer of Stonecroft, John Buck of Te Mata Estate (father of the current HBWG chair), and Kate Radburnd of CJ Pask Winery.

They believed there was a need for the regional wine industry to demonstrate its ability to be a contributing member of the community. The decision to approach Libby Smales, the then director of Cranford Hospice, with the auction idea was further reinforced by the death of wine identity Jack Matheson to cancer only eight days from his diagnosis; Jack had spent his last days at Cranford Hospice. ‘Montana Jack’ as he was known, had been Montana’s sole South Island representative responsible for establishing its Marlborough vineyards, and had retired to Hawke’s Bay. He was the founding secretary of Hawke’s Bay Vintners Ltd, a forerunner to the current Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers organisation. The first Charity Wine Auction was held in 1991 at the Hawke’s Bay Racing Centre on Saturday 2 November. There were 27 lots and 16 contributing wineries. Nineteen years later there were 40 lots and over 31 contributing wineries. A tapestry entitled ‘Les Vendanges’ was bought by Ian Cadwallader and still hangs in the Cellar Door of his Riverside Wines today.

A dinner for six by leading chef Vicki Bruns-Bolderson was another sought-after lot. Winery staff, including principals, served as wait staff. Of the original 16 wineries, 12 are still contributing; Ngatarawa Wines, Te Mata Estate, Brookfields Vineyards, Crab Farm Winery, Church Road Winery, Esk Valley Estate, Vidal Wines, CJ Pask Winery, Stonecroft, Mission Estate Winery, Sacred Hill, and Corbans (now Pernod Ricard New Zealand). A total of 16,416 litres has been contributed by these 12 wineries over the last 19 years (including 2010) and the total donated for their contributions alone reaches over $1 million ($1,016,490). The highest price for a full 225 litre barrel was achieved by Mission Estate Winery with a $9,200 bid, and the highest price for a quarter barrique (56 litres) was achieved by CJ Pask Winery with a $10,000 bid.

The generosity of these wineries over the years has been impressive especially as not always do the wines reach the expected recommended retail prices (although some far exceed this). Many of the wine lots offered are specially selected batches or made especially for the auction event. Most are not commercially available or likely to be anytime soon in any wine aficionado’s wine cellar. In recent years wineries have had to pay the excise tax on the wines donated to the event as well as the bottling and labelling. Today, many wine lots are accompanied by commissioned art works or are decorated by renowned artists as well. In recent years both Esk Valley and Stonecroft wines have been auctioned as a memorial lot, achieving bids of $11,000 for 12 litres (Esk Valley) and $15,000 for 1.5 litres (Stonecroft). There have been a number of tribute and memorial lots and in the 2010 June auction staunch industry supporters, Bob Walch and Richard Weston were remembered, as was young winemaker Doug Wisor, killed in an accident in 2004. A quote from inaugural auction catalogue stated “Oceans may separate mankind, but wine unites them.” Anon.

It goes on to state the two-fold purpose of the event was “to promote Hawke’s Bay wines and to strengthen our bonds with the community”. An enduring sentiment still evident as strongly held today as then.

ENDS Hospices de Beaune Archives - Decanter Decanter ‘Improvised’ Burgundy auction led to donation for Paris victims November 24, 2015 The US branch of the Burgundy wine society Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin has donated €40k to help victims of the Paris attacks, which have left 130 dead and many more… Burgundy 2015: Reds earn early praise at Hospices tasting November 23, 2015 Promising reports from the Burgundy 2015 wine harvest were backed up by several critics and merchants at a pre-sale tasting ahead of the Hospices de Beaune auction nine days ago.… Hospices de Beaune 2015: Bittersweet auction breaks record as money pledged to Paris victims November 16, 2015 The Hospices de Beaune 2015 auction yesterday (15 November) achieved sales of €11,347,609 (£8m), fees included, beating the previous record set last year by about 39%.

Early reports of a… Hospices de Beaune 2015: Highlander actor to host biggest auction since 2011 October 15, 2015 There are set to be 575 barrels at the Hospices de Beaune 2015 auction, up from 534 barrels last year and the largest since 2011, when 761 barrels were offered… Hospices de Beaune auction achieves record €8m sales November 17, 2014 Burgundy’s Hospices de Beaune auction has seen sales top €8m, a record total for the third year in a row, but negociants warned the result was 'troubling' for the market.… Hospices de Beaune November 11, 2014 The Hospices de Beaune is the world's oldest charity wine sale. It takes place annually in Beaune in Burgundy and has been hosted by Christie's auction house since 2005.

Each… My Beaune by Anthony Hanson MW November 11, 2014 From his time there as a student to today co-hosting the annual charity auction, Beaune's beauty and hospitality has always captivated Anthony Hanson MW. Here he shares his tips for… Hospices de Beaune 2014: New white wine added to auction October 15, 2014 A new cuvee of white wine from Beaune has been added to the auction list at the upcoming Hospices de Beaune auction, providing a 'small but welcome' boost to the… Hospices de Beaune winemaker Roland Masse to retire September 25, 2014 The winemaker and manager of Domaine des Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy, Roland Masse, is set to retire after the 2014 vintage. Hospices de Beaune auction sales highest on record November 18, 2013 This year's Hospices de Beaune auction has achieved a record sales total, raising over EUR6.3m, despite the smallest volume of wine on sale for three decades.

Hospices de Beaune: Christie’s preview tasting October 31, 2013 Bidders hoping for softer prices at this year's Hospices de Beaune auction, following a high sales total in 2012, could be disappointed judging by the mood during this week's preview… Hospices critics hail ‘impressive’ Burgundy 2012 November 20, 2012 Experts who tasted the 43 wines from the recently harvested 2012 vintage – later auctioned at the Hospices de Beaune – were surprised at the high quality of the wines,… Record sales at Hospices de Beaune November 19, 2012 The 152nd Hospices de Beaune auction yesterday resulted in its highest sale since 2000, raising nearly €6m, some half a million euros more than last year. October 30, 2012 Former French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will preside over the 152nd Hospices de Beaune auction next month.

M&S announces first Hospices de Beaune purchase January 25, 2012 Marks & Spencer has announced it is the first UK high-street retailer to buy eight barrels of wine at the Hospices de Beaune. Prices down at Hospices de Beaune November 22, 2011 The 151st Hospices de Beaune auction took a higher total than last year – but prices were down overall. Record prices paid at Hospices de Beaune November 22, 2010 The annual Hospices de Beaune barrel auction saw record prices paid as Burgundy merchants spoke of confidence returning to the market. Hospices de Beaune: after Bordeaux 09, Burgundy a bargain to Chinese November 4, 2010 As the biggest weekend in the Burgundy calendar approaches, one expert suggested the Chinese would find great Burgundy affordable compared to top Bordeaux. Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction a barometer for latest Burgundy vintage November 2, 2010 Next month’s Hospices de Beaune auction, the 150th, will provide an insight into Burgundy’s 2010 vintage.

But what can buyers expect of the wine they are bidding on, and how… Hospices de Beaune takes tastings to China October 13, 2010 Organisers of the annual Hospices de Beaune auction are woong Chinese buyers for the first time with local tastings of the Burgundies slated for sale on 21 November. Hospices result ‘better than anticipated’ November 17, 2008 Yesterday’s auction at the Hospices de Beaune took over €3m – less than last year but with a reduced number of barrels for sale. Hospices de Beaune: uncertain outcome only prediction November 15, 2008 As the Hospices de Beaune weekend gets into gear there is a good deal of speculation as to the outcome of tomorrow’s auction. Christie’s previews Hospices de Beaune wines November 12, 2008 As Christie’s prepares to launch the annual Hospices de Beaune wine sale, the London-based auctioneer has released its impressions of the 2008 vintage.

Hospices de Beaune sales nudge record despite less wine November 19, 2007 The Hospices de Beaune, the world’s oldest charity wine auction, made a massive €4.29m at the weekend – 27% more than last year, and for less wine. Hospices de Beaune sign with Christie’s until 2010 June 14, 2007 The directors of the annual Hospices de Beaune auction have signed a deal with Christie’s for the auction house to continue running its sales until 2010. Burgundy prices post healthy rise at Hospices sale March 30, 2007 Prices of red and white Burgundy increased by 12% at last weekend’s Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges auction, held in Dijon. November 20, 2006 This year’s Hospices de Beaune auction was marked by the spectacular prices achieved for white Burgundy.

Glitzy Burgundy Wine Auction Taps Celebrities : NPR Glitzy Burgundy Wine Auction Taps Celebrities Embed Embed Glitzy Burgundy Wine Auction Taps Celebrities Glitzy Burgundy Wine Auction Taps Celebrities Embed Embed Enlarge this image France's former first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, auctioneer Francois de Ricqles and former soccer coach Guy Roux preside over the 152nd Hospices de Beaune wine auction Sunday in Beaune, France. The charity auction raised an all-time high of $7.5 million, which goes to area hospitals. Tardivon Jean-Christophe/Maxppp /Landov hide caption toggle caption Tardivon Jean-Christophe/Maxppp /Landov France's former first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, auctioneer Francois de Ricqles and former soccer coach Guy Roux preside over the 152nd Hospices de Beaune wine auction Sunday in Beaune, France. The charity auction raised an all-time high of $7.5 million, which goes to area hospitals.

Tardivon Jean-Christophe/Maxppp /Landov For the last century and a half, the wine season in France's grape-growing region of Burgundy has revolved around one major commercial event. On the third Sunday in November, hundreds of barrels of the recent harvest are sold to the highest bidder in a charity wine auction. The historic event, which took place this year on Nov. 18, has evolved into an A-list rendezvous for the power players in the international wine industry. The wine auction at the Hospices de Beaune began in 1851 as a pure Burgundian affair. These days, the high-powered event attracts wine exporters and aficionados from around the world. An auctioneer from Christie's wields the gavel. The sound of Russian and Chinese buzz on the auction floor. Guests attend a wine tasting in the cellar of Hotel Dieu before the wine auction. Emmanuel Foudrot/Reuters /Landov "This is still the Mount Everest of the wine world, and if you want to know about wine you have to encounter Burgundy," wine critic Greg Love says.

"Where else in the world can you get such a variety of great wines with such aging power that also can be enjoyed when they're young. This is the great wine region of the world." Bidders buy barrels, not bottles, of wine that has just begun aging and won't hit the shelves for another two years. Typically, the Hospices de Beaune auction is a first judge of the new vintage's quality and sets the prices. The wines on the block are legendary — Pommard, Cotes de Nuits, Clos Vougeot — and so is the venue. The Hospices — a hospital and almshouse in the medieval city of Beaune — was built in 1452 just after the Hundred Years War, when famine and misery ravaged the countryside. Known as a palace for the poor — the old and sick and mothers about to give birth were welcomed for treatment and refuge here until 1983 when the last patient checked out — it became one of France's top tourist attractions. The buildings' facades and gargoyles are a stunning example of Gothic architecture and its multicolored tile roof is in the grand style of the kingdom's former rulers, the dukes of Burgundy.

Article continues after sponsorship Three days of partying, known as Les Trois Glorieuses, take place around the auction. There are wine-soaked dinners, and music and crowds fill Beaune's cobbled streets. Burgundy is much smaller than France's other major wine-growing region, Bordeaux, and there is an intimate feeling here. Vineyards are tiny — family-owned plots that go back generations. The valuable wines auctioned off come from land donated to the hospice by Burgundy families over the last five centuries. The proceeds of the auction go to hospitals in the region. One barrel is always donated to an outside alms organization. Related NPR Stories Bouillabaisse: From Humble Beginnings To High-Class Tourist Meal This year, it's for the charity foundation set up by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy — former pop singer, supermodel and first lady of France — who was happy to donate her star power in return for a barrel of Corton Grand Cru. As Bruni-Sarkozy charms and coaxes bidders to go ever higher, the tenseness of the auction floor melts away into laughter and bonhomie. To everyone's delight, a battle between two top bidders keeps the price rising.

Teasingly, Bruni-Sarkozy says, "at 200,000 [euros] I'll personally deliver the wine." Then she adds, "at 250,000, my husband will deliver the wine." A group of Chinese buyers in the front row is clearly in the thrall of it all. One of them, a 59-year-old real estate mogul who doesn't want to give her name, says China is becoming crazy over Burgundy wines. "Because it's good. It's really nice, you know, taste and long history," she says. "In Burgundy, people love their land. It's so ... impressive for us, the French culture, we love it." Bruni-Sarkozy's barrel hits a penultimate record for the auction of 270,000 euros, or about $350,000. The buyer, Ukrainian millionaire Igor Iankovsky, takes the stage to thank everyone. He says the wine will no doubt fetch even higher prices when he auctions off the barrel's 300 bottles for his own charity back in Kiev, where Burgundy is in fashion.

Sixth-generation winemaker Alberic Bichot is pleased to have placed the winning bid for his client. "It's just fabulous, and I am very proud for my customer," he says. "He's from Ukraine. And [Bruni-Sarkozy's] going to deliver the wine, no? I do hope so. She promised." Because of bad weather, this year's Burgundy harvest is th e smallest in nearly half a century . But the quality is said to be outstanding. This year's Hospices de Beaune auction fetched record prices, raising an all-time high of $7.5 million for Beaune hospitals.

Question: In which wine region is the Hospice de Beaune held annually where wines are auctioned in November?
Answer: Burgundy